Time Management Strategies for Entrepreneurs

Recently my friend and colleague Leslie Cardinal asked me to write a chapter for her new book, I Hate Being Late. Knowing that I am an expert in the area of time management strategies for entrepreneurs and even have a book on this I co-authored with Geoff Hoff, Leslie wanted me to share some insight on my experiences with her readers.

I thought back to my days as a classroom teacher, when so many of the teachers were perpetually late. It disrupted our entire day, and having to be accountable for thirty or more additional students was not easy for any of us. The students were embarrassed for their teachers, knowing that these adults had more important priorities than being there one hundred percent for their own students. The phrase “she’ll be late for her own funeral” came to mind on more than one occasion.

So, why are so many people late on a regular basis? I believe it is due to a lack of planning and organization on their part in many cases. The idea of respecting time, whether it is your own or that of someone else is a trait and habit worth developing. Even though I have always had the trait to be on time, I continue to have rituals and routines that make this an easy part of my life. When I come home, whether I am in Santa Clarita or Santa Barbara, I have a hook on which to place my keys, and an area for my purse and jacket and another hook for my sunglasses.

When it comes to my business, I manage my time by working from what I refer to as a “dynamic to-do list.” This means that the list is ongoing, and as every task is completed, delegated, or deemed no longer necessary I cross it off. This is done on a mini (5 by 8 inch) legal pad. When a page is completed I simply tear it off and tuck it in at the back. I never write on the back of the pages and when the pad is used up I save it in a file. This has worked extremely well for me over the years as a part of the time management strategies I use for my business. I have so much time to accomplish what I want to do and never feel rushed.

We all have twenty-four hours in each of our days. Some people seem to be able to stretch those hours much further than others. I have said many times that I have more free time now that I am running my own business than I have at any other point in my life. I honestly believe it is due to my willingness to organize my thoughts and actions and to schedule exactly what I will do each hour when I am working.

Also, I limit what I do to what I enjoy, am good at doing, and makes sense for what I wish to achieve. This means that each day I employ the following schedule and time management strategies:

It works for me to write almost every morning for one hour to ninety minutes before taking a break, to always have a new product or course to spend time creating for approximately one hour each day, to share what I’m doing with you (my emails take me about twenty minutes to write, format, and send), and to both learn from others and mentor the people in my high level mastermind groups for about four to five hours each week.

That’s all I do.

Yes, I will add something to social media once in awhile, but there are social media managers who are much faster and more effective there than I am.

I can do some very, very simple technology, but again I have aligned myself with the sharpest minds to help
me in that area.

I can balance a check book, but I have financial help for every transaction and financial decision I make, both personal and for my business.

Spending your days with people and activities you love makes any business endeavor worthwhile.

What are some time management strategies that work for you as an entrepreneur?

I’m author, publisher, and entrepreneur Connie Ragen Green and would love to connect with you. If you are new to the world of online entrepreneurship please check out my comprehensive training on how to set up Funnels That Click and learn how to gain an unfair advantage when it comes to building a lucrative online business.